IN 1957, HAROLD SILVERBERG STARTED A SMALL OPTICAL PRACTICE, SILVERBERG OPTICIANS, ABOVE A PHARMACY ON SPELLOW LANE IN WALTON. SIXTY YEARS LATER IT HAS BECOME A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN LIVERPOOL, LOOKING AFTER THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS’ EYESIGHT.

Ian Silverberg, who took over from his father in 1983, with his wife and business partner, Martine, is proud to be one of the city’s independent success stories. He says that: “Over the years, we’ve really seen the high street change; so many businesses, especially independents, have come and gone. There have been a few hard times, but many more fantastic times”. Asked why he thinks Silverberg Opticians has lasted so well, he adds: “We put ourselves alongside other great customer service based companies. Liverpool has always homed some amazing luxury branded stores and we include ourselves amongst the elite. We create an ‘optical experience’.

It hasn’t always been this way; after starting in Spellow Lane, Silverberg Opticians expanded to six sites across the city’s suburbs opening up their patient base. However, when Ian took over the business, he wanted to fulfil his dream of owning one of the most prestigious practices in the country. He made the decision to sell the suburban practices and focus on one high end store, in the city centre. He remembers when he moved to Silverberg’s current location, Forty Whitechapel, nearly 15 years ago; “When we opened, we had people from all over the country coming to see the new practice, from optical magazines to global optical chain stores. We pushed the boundaries of what an opticians can be”.

Having set the bar so high back then, Ian has invested heavily in his team and store to keep it ahead of the rest; “I’m aware that times change and as a business owner I need to keep up. Over recent years I have brought in new team members to help us push the business forward, with a strong online presence to help grow our brand, as well as invest in new technology and equipment for the practice so that we are always giving the highest level of service.”

To help celebrate their 60^th Anniversary, Ian and Martine Silverberg are hosting a party in store on Thursday 30^th November from 5-8pm. Ian concludes: “We’d like to invite all of our customers old and new as well as our great friends to join us ‘in store’ for a relaxed evening to celebrate with a few drinks and some live music, to reminisce about the last 60 years, and the many more to come”. If you’d like to attend or find out more please email colin@silverbergopticians.co.uk or call 0151 709 2012.

Main picture: Ian and Martine Silverberg.

Website: http://silverbergopticians.co.uk/

For similar features, please visit our lifestyle page.